“You have to know what you don’t know” and “There’s no such thing as a stupid question” were two mantras of NYU geology professor L. E. Spock nearly 60 years ago. Students who took his advice to heart were set for a lifetime of learning.

So, what don’t we know? Certainly not enough about how to keep our homes warm and draft-free in winter and cool in the summer without destroying our budgets. We can all use some solid information about our homes’ thermal deficiencies and how to correct them in the most cost-effective way.

One doesn’t need to be a home heating specialist or a mathematician to gain solid insights into why and how homes leak heat and what can be done to help. Some solutions are surprisingly easy and inexpensive. Others take more time and money, requiring professional intervention. Wouldn’t it be good to learn what’s up with your own home?

Do you know that a 15-year-old refrigerator uses twice the electricity of an Energy Star rated one and that an Efficiency Vermont rebate is available for the purchase of a new one? Do you know that the windows you blame for your drafty home may not need expensive replacement but could benefit from a much less costly do-it-yourself caulk and insulation job?

Vermont’s housing stock is among the oldest in the nation. That, coupled with our cold winters, leaves many Vermonters turning the heat up from October through April. Lack of solid information may be the cause of some of those high heating bills.

This Saturday, April 27, a Home Energy Conservation Workshop will be held at Warren’s Town Hall from 9 a.m. to noon to help Valley homeowners fill in the blanks with plenty of time to ask questions, check out some interesting displays, pick up educational materials and learn from experts in home weatherization who work with Efficiency Vermont’s Energy Star program. Several area contractors will be on hand as well as some local bankers who can answer questions about financing larger projects.

The workshop, hosted by Warren’s newly reorganized Energy Committee, is open to all Valley residents. Pre sign-up is recommended so plenty of handouts and snacks can be on hand. Participants who want to volunteer to help friends and neighbors will benefit from additional information about Vermont’s yearlong Home Energy Challenge program.

Find out what you don’t know and ask some really great questions. You’ll be glad you did!

Contact Callie Willis, 496-4119, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..